In no galaxy of the sporting world is a team with two national titles to its name considered a Cinderella. A program with that tutelage, including 25 trips to the NCAA tournament, should never be considered a surprise when it advances beyond where it is expected to finish. That’s where the No. 7 seed Michigan State Spartans stand this season. Like always, the Spartans are in their own universe.
For the past 18-seasons, Michigan State has appeared in the Big Dance. It has missed just two seasons under legendary head coach Tom Izzo, and those were his first two years on the job. Of these last 18 years, the Spartans have advanced to the Sweet 16 in 13 campaigns. Plus, it’s their fourth-straight appearance in a regional semifinal.
Only one other school (Duke with 14) has more Sweet 16 appearances. No other program has over 10. Under Izzo, the Spartans have made it to eight Elite 8 contests.
Experience is stacked up in favor of Michigan State, but No. 3 seed Oklahoma is favored to win. The Sooners will have to look past the expectations, but a swarming Spartans defense will be starring them down the entire contest.
Michigan State has dispatched Georgia and Virginia so far in the tournament by holding them both to a .316 shooting percentage. In the 60-54 win over No. 2 seed Virginia, the Spartans raced to an early 15-4 lead as Travis Trice sunk three 3-pointers in that spurt. Meanwhile, Michigan State limited Oklahoma to just 2 of 17 shooting from 3-point range.
They stopped them from the outside and the inside.
Brandon Dawson tallied four blocks against the Cavaliers, who Michigan State also eliminated from the 2014 tournament. The Spartans have averaged five blocks a game in the tournament this season.
Despite a rough regular season, Michigan State only gave up an average of 51 points per game. There were only nine instances when teams scored over 70 points against the Spartans; one was a win and five games were overtime losses. On Dec. 30, Michigan took Maryland to double overtime before falling just 68-66. If some of those close losses were flipped to Spartans’ victories, they would not have been granted a seven seed.
Though Virginia was ranked in the Top 5 in polls nearly all season and Michigan State succumbed to an 11-loss regular season, this Round of 32 stunner was hardly an upset. History was on the Spartans side, for sure, but come March, they can never be counted out. As the numbers have shown, the Spartans are almost an automatic lock to still be playing at this point.
That’s a testament to Izzo’s coaching genius. His track record has proven that he gets the most out of his players when the games really count in the second season, the NCAA tournament.
Still, Izzo and the Spartans haven’t won a title since 2000. They were runners up in 2009 and last made a Final Four in 2010, falling to eventual champion Duke.
The 16s aren’t as sweet anymore, nor do the 8s seem that elite. What Michigan State wants is beyond what it is known for. This year, it needs to be the team that finishes what it starts.
Then the legacy can rightfully stand out from the rest in the collegiate world.